Concordia University Wisconsin’s 2023 graduate nursing students achieved a near-perfect aggregate first-time pass rate of 99 percent on the combined national certification examinations.
For the fifth straight year, Concordia’s graduate nursing Adult Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner students achieved a 100 percent first-time pass rate on the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) test, one of two certifying exams graduate nursing students can elect to take to achieve certification in their profession. The other exam, which is administered by the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners Certification Board (AANPCB), saw CUW students achieve an exemplary first-time pass rate of 96 percent in 2023. Altogether, CUW’s 2023 graduate nursing students notched a 99 percent first-time pass rate on their national certifying exams.
A total of 63 CUW students took the exams. The ANCC and AANPCB released the results of the exams in March and February, respectively. The CUW students who participated in the testing were 2023 graduates of Concordia’s Master of Science in Nursing –Primary Care Nurse Practitioner program. The MSN program has two concentration tracks: Family Nurse Practitioner (MSN FNP) and Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner (MSN AGPCNP).
A history of success in graduate nursing
“This achievement is a testament to the hard work and commitment of our students and to the quality and expertise of our faculty,” says School of Nursing Dean Diane Ames, DNP. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics projects a 45 percent growth in nurse practitioner positions from 2022-2032. “Concordia is proud to be a leader in educating and graduating primary care nurse practitioners to increase access to care.”
These latest scores add to a celebrated history of success among CUW’s MSN students. Concordia students consistently surpass the national average on the AANPCB and ANCC board certification exams. For instance, CUWs FNP program average on the AANPCB exam equaled 599 while the national average was 545. Furthermore, the AGPCNP program average was 643 exceeding the national average of 593.
Undergraduate NCLEX scores
Concordia’s graduate nursing students aren’t the only high-achievers. CUW’s 2023 Bachelor of Science in Nursing grads achieved a 92 percent first-time pass rate on the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX), which is the nationwide examination for the licensing of nurses in the U.S. Those results were released late last month as well. The score edges out the national average of 90 percent.
These scores follow a successful accreditation site visit hosted by CUW’s School of Nursing Feb. 7-9. The Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) grants nursing schools’ accreditation on a 10-year cycle. While the Board will not issue its final report until September, preliminary reports show that CUW met the 4 standards and 35 elements for a perfect score. The CUW accreditation review team included representatives from various universities nationwide, including Penn State and St. Louis University.
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The School of Nursing at Concordia University Wisconsin is dedicated to providing a rigorous Christ-centered education that develops and inspires highly skilled professional nurse leaders who are prepared to serve diverse communities with excellence, truth, integrity, and compassion to promote health and healing.